The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-08
The Anarchists Daughter.
BY WALLACE P. REED.
For The Constitution

III was nine O'Clock in the morning, and the
yards and offices surrounding the Morley mills
presented spectacle of almost turbulent ac-
tivity.
A thousand operatives we're at work inside
the mills, and outside an orderly mob Of clerks,
truckmen and laborers surged to and fro brsily
engaged in their various tasks.
The private office of Mr. John Morley, the
millionaire owner of this vast establishment:
was unoccupied. 1t was too early for Mr..
Morley to make his appearance, but the ianitor
had carefully busted the handsome desks and
chairs, and arranged everything in perfect
order.
From time to time a clerk or an errand boy
entered the Office and deposited letter or a
parcel on the great mans desk, and then re-
tired with business-like celebrity.
taking advantage of moment when the
office was deserted a swarthy little man with
restless black eyes and a stern, strongly marked
face, slipped into the room.
The visitor was Silas West, one OF the opera
tives, but his movements would have made it
apparent, II there had been any one to watch
him, that he was not in search Of his employer.
"Aha!" chuckled Silas, Il am lust in time,
and had better not tarry."
He drew from his pocket small square
parcel wrapped in white paper and laid il on
the desk by theinkstand.
The parcel was addressed TO "John Morley,
ESQ, and was marked Personal"
Silas West quietly left the place, and after a
furtlve glance around to assure himself that he
was not observed, he took q quick turn down a
narrow street where there was not living
thing in sight.
cold Morley didn't know that he had an
anarchist among his men," he muttered.
Swell, he will never know it now. There is
enough dynamite in that thing to kill dozen
menu
A troubled look came over his face as he
talked to himself.
cit is a bad thing to do" he said; "but,
curse him, why did he suspend me? An
honest workman has right to take his little
spree now and then without having the bread
taken out of his mouth. Morley treated me
like a dog, and he deserves what he is going to
get"
The man walked along with his head down.
evidently struggling with unpleasant thoughts
"Confound it," he broke out, II am forget
ting the sublime principles of my creed. 1t
has been held by wise and good men that 1t is
right to assassinate tyrant. These bloated
capitalists are in the same box. Whenever
one is killed his wealth goes into different
hands and is distributed. IL we can't have
communism we can at least kill off the men
with big fortunes, and their money will be
scattered by their numerous heirs. Morley's
death will be q benefit 90 mankind
Still, Sias West did not linger anywhere In
the neighborhood of the mills. He knew that
the expected explosion might occur at any
moment but nervous dread took possession
OF him, and he was seized with o desire TO
reach his cottage and shut himself up.
Good newsp' exclaimed Mrs. West when
Silas entered the door.
"How? What is it? ! don't understand"
stammered her husband, turning his careworn
face upon her.
at is almost too good to be true" replied
Mrs. West, half laughing and half crying
"Who would have thought that q millionaire
like your Mr. Morley would take the trouble to
think of us?"
"Woman! What do you mean?"
"Oh, Silas, how can you look so? Mr.
Morley is our friend. He sent his secretary
here this morning to request you to return to
work, and, Silas he says that il you will let
liquor alone he viii promote you, and that this
suspension was only for your own good. 1t
was to give you time to think. Now my dear,
don't you agree with me that Mr.. Morley is a
good man, and won't you promise to turn over
a new leaf, and quit that secret society which
takes up SO much Of your time for l am sure
that half Of your trouble comes from going
with those strange, repulsye looking men"
Silas West had turned as white as a sheet,
and he raised his hand TO his head with a
groan.
Husband are you sick ?"
"Where is little Mary?" he asked with
vacant stare.
ooh, yes; I'll tell you about that too" said
Mrs. West. "Mary, dear little thing, was so
delighted over the news that she couldn't rest
until she fixed up pretty bouquet to place on
Mr. Morleys desk so that he would find it
when he came down"
my Godl" screamed Slas. "Do you mean
that"
eyes; she went to the mills half an hour
ago, and will be here in few minutes"
With a wild Shrek of more than mortal
agony, Silas West staggered forward and fell
senseless to the floor, just as the muliied sound
of an explosion mile away ratified the win
dows Of the cottage.
1t was long time before Slas West recov-
cred from his attack Of brain fever, and when
loo
to listen to the sorrow-stricken woman by his
bedside, lie silently prayed for death
sit was so horrible, Silas," said his weeping
wife "to have our little golden-hared darling
killed in that manner. She was mangled
beyond recognition, and the horror Of il nearly
killed me. But, Silas, there was one bright
CLEAN in the midst Of all our trouble. Mr..
Morley and his wife came here. They had the
funeral arrangements made, and during all the
weeks that YOU have been i'll Mr.. Morley has
footed all the bills and saved us from starya-
ton. We owe him debt OF gratitude that we
can never repay"
She paused in her talk. Her husband had
tainted.
The tragedy caused by the explosion Of the
dynamite bomb in Mr.. Morey's Office had been
driven out Of the public mind by other matters
Of sensational interest before Silas West was
able TO return to his work. Some Of his fellow
operatives told the wrctched father that the
affair was supposed 10 be the work OF tho
anarchists, but that no clew had ever been OBJ
tanned II was believed that the little girl had
waited in the office for Mr.. Morley, and the
queer-looking package had attracted her atten-
ton. She had probably handled it, and an
unfortunate touch had caused it to explode.
Mr.. Morley told his wife that Silas West was
the most tender-heaTed man he had ever
known. He went back to work changed man.
His face wore look Of hopeless sorrow, but he
seemed to he entirely devoted to three things
his wife, his work, and Mr.. Morley.
"No," said Mr.. Morley one day; 81 am not
afraid Of anarchists In my mills. / treat my
workmen like men, and they appreciate It,
But if there is any danger that man, Silas
West, will warn me in time. For some reason
he has an intense hatred Of anything like
anarchy. II you mention the name Of an
anarchist in his hearing he turns white and
rcd and grits his teeth. tell you, West has a
heart Of goldl There will be no anarchists
around as long as he stays with me-"
The patient, pale-iaced worker IN the Nor
ley mills will doubtless 90 TO his grave and
make no sign, His wife wonders sometimes at
his tenderness, and his employer thinks him
little cranky in his rigid sense of duty.
Silas West alone knows the cause Of the
regeneration and reformation, and his secret
has made him feeble old man, although he
is still in his thirties,